Early momentum needed to win T20, says John Wright

Published: Saturday, April 17, 2010, 20:26 [IST]

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New Delhi, Apr 17 (ANI): Former New Zealand cricketer and former Indian cricket team coach John Wright said on Saturday said that teams need to bring in momentum early on in the game to win championships like Twenty20 World Cup.

"You know, one of the exciting things about the Twent20 World Cup is that there is an air of unpredictability about it. To win it, the teams have to bring in momentum early and that would be important," Wright said.

"There is a little time between the IPL and starting of the tournament. So, I think the first two-three games for each side will be really critical because you have to get momentum going early in a world championship," he added.

Wright added it would be tough for India, as they go directly into the T20 tourney without playing a practice game and the other teams may have advantage on this account.

The 2010 edition of the World Twenty20 will take place in the West Indies from April 30-May 16.

The tournament will consist of 12 teams, divided into four groups of A, B, C and D. All Test-playing nations plus qualifiers contest it.

India has been placed in Group C alongside South Africa and Afghanistan.

Wright further said that the Indians have attained the number one spot in Test cricket because of their quality bowlers as well as opening batsmen.

"One of the reasons why you (India) have been successful is that the fast bowlers have performed really well and you have the opening batsmen performing well, specifically in Test match cricket. That is an area of the game which has actually allowed you to get to the number one spot," Wright said.

Wright today interacted with students during a school-level cricket tournament in national capital New Delhi as a part of John Wright Scholarship initiative.

New Zealand's Southland Cricket Association is looking forward to signing some quality Indian players with the help of this scholarship, which has been initiated in India by the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). (ANI)